In regards to the "lightning strikes" during the series 5 theme tune, not many people have professed to like them.

However, I have just remembered/realised that the lightning strikes are one of the most classic things about the theme tune!

Didn't the Hartnell theme originally contain a "thunderclap" that was quickly removed amid fears that it scared the children?

Forgive me if I am wrong, but it seems that the new arrangement is more oldschool than we thought!

(As for me, I love the theme tune and was relieved to hear the middle 8 return last week. It just gets better and better )

I totally agree, and hope we don't get a knee-jerk response from Murray Gold after reading the criticisms. I think it's a brilliant and somewhat brave new version of the theme, that does indeed feel very much a modern version of the original. It's less orchestral sounding imho, and keeps a cool industrial rhythm that I really bloody love.

It seems to be growing on people too, as there has been much less sniping about it this week noticeably.

I think the theme works better at the end of the episode than the beginning - when the music kicks in for the Dalek next time section in Episode 2, it works fantastically and really gives an exciting edge to what is being seen.

I loathe the new theme tune. It's so weak.

It's by no means my favourite version but as I suspected when I posted on the first thread: it is growing on me week by week and to be honest, if the theme tune continues to be the only real gripe I have with the series then I'll be a happy bunny - as for the lightning strikes, no opinion on them either way, they work as visuals which is the only reason they're there after all...

The odd thing with the new theme is that it sounds weak on TV, but listening through a proper set of speakers and a good system set up, it's actually pretty good, I like the industrial drums in it once the Doctor Who logo appears.

Hate it with a vengence

Which bit is the 'middle eight'? Tried Googling that phrase but it didn't make it clearer for me - I have no technical knowledge of music at all I'm afraid!

I wasn't sure about the theme tune on first hearing but I really like it now, it gives me shivers!

I like the bit with the trumpets.

I don't have technical knowledge of music either, but I'm familiar with the term "middle 8" purely in relation to the Dr Who theme.

It's the one section of the tune that is a different tune from either the "intro" ("riddleydum, dee riddleydum..." etc) or the "main riff" ("oo-ee-oo..." etc)

In both "Classic Who" and "New Who", it's a portion of the full-length tune that has generally only featured during the CLOSING credits only (and, in some eras of the series, not at all).

The 7th & 8th Doctors' eras remain the only eras where the "middle 8" features during the OPENING credits music.

In the 7th Dr's opening titles, the "middle 8" section of the tune occurs whilst the Tardis-in-a-bubble is zooming away from the viewer, into the centre of the spiralling purple galaxy thing, and during the time that the image of Sylvester McCoys winking face is on screen.

You're a star! I just You Tube'd the 7th Doctor theme and I finally know what everyone's on about when they refer to the middle eight. Hurrah!

I admit to not being too keen on the new theme when we all heard it in episode 1, but now must admit that it has grown on me! I like it now!!!

So agree. I was mortified when I first heard it. Found it almost unrecognizable! My opinion so radically changed on hearing it in episode 2 that I wondered whether they had tweaked it.

I liked the theme straight away, don't really know what the fuss is about, it's not that different from some before. Still I'm not so sure of the visuals, like most of the effects this year, but hey, it's only for a minute or so anyway.

Given it a couple of eps now and... I definitely don't like it that much!
But as Talma said, it's only for a minute or so.
If the re-jigged theme is the worst thing we're going to have presented to us this year then I can live with it!

I don't know about "new". 80s maybe. "New" not so sure.



In that case I feel the need to "snipe" So far when I talk to people about the new series of Doctor Who they all say how great it is. We chat about how a young actor like Matt Smith is doing so well projecting an "older" identity, about Amy, about the new Tardis etc etc. Then I ask what they think of the theme tune and so far every response has been to laugh and say, "Isn't it awful".

Its worse than the awful 80s version

YMMV

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Another one here who didn't like it the first week but thinks it works quite well now.

I, too, wondered if they've tweaked it.

Daleks and River Song into this theme tune have worked very well.

After hearing it on TV I went to the website and listened to the version there. I could definitely hear elements of the original (1963) theme in there.

It's grown on me quite a bit too. I don't really get the criticisms that its 'weak'. Maybe its not quite as bombastic as the previous version (which I loved too), but its pretty damn dramatic if you turn up the bass. When I've listened back to the old one, it sounds a bit plodding now in comparison to the zippy pace of the new theme.

+1. The heavy drumming version for DT's series was the best so far.

I'm not sure why 'strength' is considered a good criteria for a Doctor Who theme arrangement. Surely 'eerie' is more appropriate?

I love the new theme and made it my ringtone as soon as it was posted on the official website

I thought it was class from The Eleventh Hour, I think some people just didn't like it straight away, because it was too different to what they were expecting.

Getting used to it now ...